Delivery apparatus



Nov. 3, 1942. A. P. BAMFoRD 2,300,863

DELIVERY APPARATUS Filed Aug 3, 1940 I INVEN' TOR firm? A fl/wrawATTORNEY one another in their travel therethrough in a Patented Nov. 3,1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DELIVERY APPARATUS Arthur P, Bamford,Millburn, N. 1., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to. Interchemical Corporation, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Ohio Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,307

Claims.

This invention relates to delivery apparatus for rotary web printingpresses and aims to provide an improved means for stopping and stackinglarge thin sheets of paper or other material which are cut from a webtraveling at high speed.

Rotary intaglio printing presses have been developed recently which arecapable of producing wrappers, labels, carton blanks and the like fromwebs traveling at speeds of from 300 to 600 feet per minute. In one formof delivery apparatus that has been used in conjunction with suchprinting presses, the sheets are conveyed immediately after cutting to astacking receptacle and guided during their travel by means of suitablegripping fingers attached to an endless chain. The sheets are releasedfrom the gripping fingers by contact with a stop plate positioneddirectly above the stacking receptacle so that they may be droppedthereinto. However, when the sheets consist of a thin paper stock, theforce with which the sheets contact the stopping plate causes them to bebent and wrinkled at least at the front edges thereof. Moreover,

when the speed of operation is increased, the sheets are not ofsufiicient weight to drop away it to be released from the grippingfingers and positively moved out of the path of the following sheet sothat it may then be dropped into the stacking receptacle.

.The rotating clamping devices which I have provided for this purposemay comprise'a pair of rotating spiral or helical plates arranged insuitable positions at each side .ofthe delivery apparatus and eachhaving a .flared opening at the entrance thereof into which the edge ofthe sheet may readily-be fed. As the spiral'members continue theirrotation, the sheet is posifrom the position -in which they are releasedfrom the fingers before a subsequent sheet is fed thereto. Consequently,such delivery apparatus is entirely unsuitable for high speed operationon large thinsheets of paper stock.

I have discovered that these and other diflicultis may be effectivelyovercome by slowing up e ch sheet as it is released from the grippingfingers and positively moving it out of the tn of a following sheet, andhave devised a n vel mechanism for accomplishing this desirable result.

well known manner. During this forward feeding of each sheet, theforwardedge thereof is gripped or clamped between one or more suitablespring-like gripping fingers attached to an endless traveling chain orchains and guided thereby to a point adjacent to the stackingreceptacle. Prior to reaching the stacking-receptacle, however, eachsheet is clamped at the sides thereof. by a rotating clamping devicewhich is adapted .vices.

tively clamped therein by suitable ball clamping v means which areoperated at the proper time by means of cams. This causes the sheet tobe slowed up or momentarily stopped and thus released from the grippingfingers on the traveling endless chain. The action of the sheet clampingdevices associated with the helical members is substantiallyinstantaneous so that by the time the sheet is released from thegripping "fingers, it will have been slowed in its movement and releasedfrom the action of said clampin de- Continued rotation of the helicalmembers then forces .the sheet downward out of the path of the followingsheet and free from said helical members so that it may drop into asuitable stacking receptacle. The timing of the rotaof each helicalmember will be in proper position to receive the advancing side edges ofthe following sheet.

The above and other features and objects of my invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description andthe accompany ng drawing, in which:

Fi 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic Jside elevational view of a deliverymechanism in which one practical form of my invention has been embodied;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of Fig. l, showing my improved sheet-stopping a dthedepressing mechanism in front elevation; and

Fig. .3 is a fragmentary top, plan view, largely diagrammatic, showingthe position of the sheet at the time it is clamped by theclampingdevices associated with the rotating helical members. v

As shown in the drawing, a web W of paper or other material which hasbeen printed or otherwise decorated in a rotary web printing to slow themovement of the sheet and cause press P. is fed to'a suitable cutter C(preferably of the rotary type) where it is cut me; individual sheets S.Substantially simultaneously with the cutting of each individual sheetS, said sheet is fed into a delivery apparatus D which carries the sheetthrough a substantially horizontal path and deposits or releases it ina. suit-- able stacking receptacle R arranged at the exit end thereof.

The delivery apparatus D, in which the essential features of myinvention have been embodied, comprises an upper set of endless tapes orbelts 5, and a lower set of conveyor tapes or belts 6 cooperatingtherewith. Upper tapes 5 have an operative reach substantially as longas the delivery apparatus D and extending from a right-hand set ofrollers I mounted on a shaft 8 to a left-hand set of larger rollers 9mounted on a shaft Ill. The tapes 5 also pass over and are guided by athird set of rollers Ii mounted on a shaft l2 and arranged in aposition, as shown in Fig. 1, about one-third the distance between therollers 1 and the rollers 9. Each of the shafts, 8, l and I2, is mountedin suitable bearings provided in side frames l3, l3. Lower set ofconveyor tapes Ga has an operative reach extending from a right-hand setof rollers I 4, mounted on a shaft I journaled in the side frames I3, I3below the cutter C, to a left-hand set of rollers l8 mounted on a shaftII also joumaled in the side frames i3, l3. Rollers Ii are positioned tothe left of the rollers II and about half way between the rollers l and9 so that, as the sheets are fed between the upper and lower sets ofconveyor tapes 5 and 6, they will be moved through a substantiallyhorizontal path to a platform l8 located directly adjacent to and inline with the rollers l1. Any one or more of the shafts for the conveyortape rollers may be driven in any conventional manner at a speed whichwill cause the upper and lower sets of conveyor tapes Sand 6 to have asurface speed, throughout their operative reaches be.-

tween the rollers i4 and III, which is slightly the chain so that thegripping takes place as the sheet travels between the rollers Ii and therollers It or the platform I8; and the sheet will be guided therebyuntil it is released in a manner to be described hereinafter.

It will be understood that the number of tapes 5 and 6 providedthroughout the width of the delivery apparatus will depend upon thewidth of the sheet S and in any event will be sufficient to provideproper support therefor as it travels through the conveyor. Similarly,any desired number of conveyor chains 20 and associated gripper fingers24 and may be provided to give suitable support and guiding action forthe sheets S.

In the delivery mechanism described thus far, which is similar to thatdisclosed in Irving Gurwick Patent No. 1,981,621, dated November 20,1934, to which reference may be made for a more detailed description, ithas been customary to remove or release the sheet S from a pair ofgripper fingers 24, 25 by contacting the forward edge thereof with asuitable projecting stop plate arranged above a forward wall 26 of thestacking receptacle R. However, this has been found to cause bending ofthe sheets and, particularly when they are composed of thin paper stock,as released sheet will not drop into the stacking receptacle R quicklyenough to prevent the next following sheet from bumping into orcontacting the rear edge.

In order to prevent any wrinkling or bending of the front edges of thesheets 8 as they are released into the stacking receptacle and furtherto prevent each following sheet from contacting a previously releasedsheet or sheets. I have devised and provided a special sheet slowing anddepressing means which will now be described.

In addition to the upper and lower sets of conveyor tapes 5 and 6, thedelivery apparatus D also includes an endless chain 20 which is mountedfor engagement with and movement by a right-hand sprocket 2| mounted onthe shaft l2 and a left-hand sprocket 22 mounted on the shaft l0.Suitably spaced throughout the length of the chain 20 and attached tothe links thereof are a plurality of outwardly projecting supportingplates 23 having formed therewith or attached thereto a lower rearwardlyprojecting finger 24 arranged for cooperation with an upper resilient orspring-like finger 25. These gripper fingers 24 and 25 are flared attheir outer ends and adapted to grip the front edge of each individualsheet S. It will be noted that the diam"- eter of each sprocket issmaller than the associated rollers mounted on the shafts therewith, so

that the linear speed 'of the chain and gripper fingers will be slowerthan the surface speed of the conveyor tapes 5 and 0.

Thus, the forward As best shown in Fla. 2, this sheet-slowing anddepressing means 30 comprises left and right helical or spiral platemembers 3| and 22, .respectively, mounted on the lower ends of suitablestub shafts 23 Journaled in bearing brackets 34 attached to the sideframes I I. The shafts 32 are each provided with a gear 25 which isadapted to mesh with and be rotated by a suitable cooperating gear 38provided on a cross shaft 31 joumaled in the .side frames is and rotatedat the desired speed by means of suitable drive gears 38. The speed ofrotation of the shafts 33 is timed with and correlated with the speed ofoperation of the entire deliveryapparatus and is such that one completerevolution will be made each time a sheet 3 is fed thereto by theconveyor tapes and gripper fingers 2d, 25. To accommodate sheets ofdifferent size, the stub shafts l3 and associated gears are preferablymovable to different positions along the shaft 31, which, in turn, maybe moved to any desired position between the shafts HI and I2.

Each of the helical members 3| and 82, which are substantially identicalin construction except that one is a mirror image oflthe other,comprises a circular spiral-shaped piece of sheet metal having anupwardly flared or bent en- I exit end IlFThe vertical distance betweenthe during one revolution of the helical members ll and 22. It will beapparent that if a sheets were passed beneath the entrance edge 40,during sition shown in Fig. 3.

rotation of the helical members 3| and 32- in which the edges 40 aremoving forward or toward the observer in Fig. 2, the sheet would bemoved downwardly and released therefrom when the exit edges 4| pass theedges of the sheet.

In the construction shown, however, each individual sheet S is passedbeneath the entrance edges 40 of th helical members as it is heldbetween th gripper fingers 24 and 25 and moving at a relatively highrate of speed. In order to remove each sheet from the gripper fingers24,

- 25 and slow up its motion so that it may be depressed by the helicalmembers 3| and 32 and caused to drop into the stacking receptacle R, Ihave provided a clamping device for each of the helical members. In theform of invention shown. this l mping device comprises .a steel ball 42which is arranged in a circular opening 43 provided in the helicalmember beyond or below the entrance edge 40 in a position to contact theedge of a sheet during rotation of said helical member. The ball 42projects through the opening 43 into contact with a small segmentalplate 44 having a forward edg 45 substantially in alignment with andspaced below the entrance edge 40 and a rearward edge 45 (Fig. 3)positioned a suitable distance beyond the ball 42 and spaced from thelower side of the helical members. Said ball 42 is loosely held in thaperture 43 and in contact with the lower plate 44 by means of aresilient apertured ball retaining clip 41 which may be secured to theupper surface of the helical member in any convenient manner, such as bymeans of rivets 48.

It will be apparent that the entrance edges 40.

and 45 of each helical member and the lower segmental plate 44 provide aflared entrance for each sheet, as it is fed thereto by the conveyortapes and gripper fingers 24 and 25. As the sheet is initially drawnbetween the entrance edges 40 and 45, the ball clamping devices 42 arenot in rotative position to contact the edges of the sheet, as indicatedin Fig. 2. However, as the sheet continues its movement and the helicalmembers 3| and 32 continue their rotation, the side edges of the sheetwill pass between the lower portion of the ball 42 which projectsthrough the opening 43 andthe top surface of the segmental lower member44. The arrangement and timing of the apparatus is such that this takesplace when about one-half the length of the sheet has passed beneath thehelical member and said member has rotated to the po e For releasing orremoving the sheet S from the gripper fingers 24 and 25 when it is inthe Fi .3 position, -I have provided cams 50 which are arranged to movethe balls 42 into firm contact with the edges of the sheet and the lowersegmental member 44 so as momentarily to hold the sheet while theconveyor chain 20 and the gripper fingers 24, 25 continue their forward.movement. Each cam 50 consists of a fiat beveled head provided on thelower end of a screw 5| which may be threaded into one of the bear ingbrackets 34 for the shafts 33 and maintained 'in proper adjustedposition by means of a lock nut 52. It will be apparent that thecontinued forward movement of the gripper fingers 24, 25 while the sheetis being held at the side edges by the clamping balls 42 will cause saidsheet to be freed from said gripper fingers. This momentary stopping orholding of. the sheet definitely slows up it movement when the leadingedge" 25 or the stacking receptacle. However, since the helical memberscontinue their rotation, the holding of the sheet will be only momentaryfor the clamping balls 42 will pass from beneath the cams 50. Continuedrotation of the helical members 3| and 32 then forces the sheetdownwardly in the manner described above and said sheet, due to its ownmomentum, continue a brief forward movement into the stacking receptacleR which, if desired,may be suitably jogged to cause the sheets to beproperly aligned in the stack.

While I have described a preferred embodiment ofmy invention as used inconjunction with a specific type of delivery apparatus, it will beapparent that certain features thereof may be used generally with anytype of horizontal delivery. Moreover, various changes may be made inthe construction and certain features thereof may be employed withoutothers without departing from my invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

What I claim is: I g

1. Delivery apparatus, comprising means for feeding sheets successivelyin spaced relation toward a stacking receptacle, means for gripping anedge of each sheetand guiding it in its movement, and means forreleasing each. sheet from said gripping means and positively moving ittoward said receptacle and out of .the path of the following sheet, saidlast mentioned means including a rotating helical member arranged to e gge an edge of each sheet, and means as-.

sociated with said helical member for momenceptacl and out of the pathof the following sheet, said 'last mentioned means including a rotatableshaft arranged substantially perpendicularly to the plane of saidpredetermined path and having mounted thereon a member rotatablesubstantially in the plane of the sheet and adapted momentarily to clampthe side edge of a sheet and then force it out of the path of movementof the following sheet.

3. Delivery apparatus, comprising means for feeding sheets successivelyin spaced relation toward a stacking receptacle, means for gripping anedge of each sheet and guiding it in its movement, and means forreleasing each sheet from said gripping means and positively moving ittoward said receptacle and out of the path of the following sheet, saidlast mentioned means comprising a pair of helical members rotating intimed relation with the movement of the feeding and gripping means andhaving means for clamping the side edge of a sheet to stop said sheetmomentarily and thereby cause it to be released from the gripping means.

4. Delivery apparatus, comprising means for feeding sheets successivelythrough a substantially horizontal path toward a stacking receptacle,means for gripping the forward edge of each sheet and guiding it in itsmovement,

' means for releasing each sheet from said gripthereof is a shortdistance from the forward wall ping means in a position substantiallydirectly above the stacking" receptacle; and means for positively movingeach released sheet down- 4 wardLv toward the stacking receptacle andout of the horizontal path of movement of the fol- 'lowing sheet, saidlast mentioned means including a pair of rotating helical membersadapted to engage the side edges of each sheet and force it downwardly.

, each sheet, andineans associated with said helical members formomentarily clamping said side edges of 'each sheet thereto as it isengaged thereby.

6. In a delivery apparatus for conveying sheets successively from acutter through a horizontal comprising a pair of rotating helicalmembers path and depositing them in a stacking receptacle and havinggrippe s for the forwardedge of each sheet for guidin' said sheet in itsmovement, mean for releasing each sheet from the grippers and positivelymoving it downwardly out of the path of movement of the following sheet,comprising a pair of rotating helical members arranged to engageopposite side edges of each sheet, means associated with said helicalmembers for gripping the side edges of each sheet, and means foractuating said gripping means each time a sheet is engaged by saidhelical members.

7. In a delivery apparatus for conveying sheets successively fromacutter through a horizontal path and depositing themv in a stackingreceptacle and having grippers for the forward edge of each sheet forguiding said sheet in itsmovement, means for releasing each sheet fromthe grippers and positively moving it downwardly out of the path ofmovement of the following sheet,

arranged to engage opposite side edges of each sheet, means associatedwith said helical members for gripping the side edges of each sheet,

and means for actuating said gripping means members.

8. Delivery apparatus, comprising mean for feeding sheets successivelyin spaced relation toward a stacking receptacle, means for gripping anedge of each sheet and guiding it in its movement, and means forreleasing each sheet from said gripping means and positively moving ittoward said receptacle and out of the path of the following sheet, saidlast mentioned-means comprising a pair of rotating helical membersarranged to engage opposite side edges of each sheet, means associatedwith said helical members for gripping the side edges of each sheet, andmeans for actuating said gripping means each time a sheet is engaged bysaid helical members.

9. In a delivery apparatus, means for stopping once during eachrevolution of said helical the feeding movement of a sheet and moving itout of the path of a following sheet, comprising a rotating helicalmember arranged to engage an edge of said sheet, and means associatedwith said helical member for momentarily clamping said edge to saidhelical member as it is engaged thereby. s

10. In a delivery apparatus, means for stopping the feeding movement ofa sheetand moving it out of the path of a following sheet, comprising apair of rotating helical members arranged to engage opposite side edgesof the sheet, clamping means associated with said helical members forholding said side edges during the engagement thereof by said helicalmembers, and mean for actuating said clamping means once during eachrevolution of said helical members. ARTHUR P. BAMFORD.

